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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
09:31
In Vivo, Percutaneous, Needle Based, Optical Coherence Tomography of Renal Masses
Published on: March 30, 2015
7.8K
Malignant renal angiomyolipoma without tuberous sclerosis
Antonio Cusano1, Fernando Abarzua-Cabezas, Anoop Meraney
1Department of Urology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
BMJ Case Reports
|May 3, 2014
Summary
A rare high-grade epithelioid angiomyolipoma mimicking renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in a 68-year-old woman. This aggressive tumor invaded surrounding tissues and the renal vein, highlighting the importance of accurate pathological diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Urology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma is a common kidney malignancy.
- Angiomyolipomas are typically benign kidney tumors, rarely presenting with malignant features.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with symptoms suggestive of renal cell carcinoma.
- Imaging revealed a vascular renal mass.
- Surgical resection was performed for suspected renal cell carcinoma.
Findings:
- Pathology confirmed a grade 4 malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma, not renal cell carcinoma.
- The tumor demonstrated aggressive invasion into hilar and perinephric adipose tissue.
- Tumor extension into the renal vein was noted.
- HMB-45 positivity supported the angiomyolipoma diagnosis alongside the epithelioid morphology.
Implications:
- Malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma is a rare differential diagnosis for renal masses.
- Accurate histopathological diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment and prognosis.
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare tumor types in renal mass evaluation.
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